1968 Sunbeam Alpine Series V

Description

Just four owners from new; overdrive gearbox; driven 60 miles to the sale; reassuringly sound and solid car from a private collection

Styled by the great industrial designer Ken Howes, the 1959 Sunbeam Alpine was heavily influenced by the Ford Thunderbird which lent it oodles of Trans-Atlantic glamour. At first the car was powered by a 78bhp 1,494cc four-cylinder engine but in the Series II of 1960 this was replaced by an 85bhp 1,592cc unit.

In 1963 the Series III arrived with larger front brake discs, a bigger boot and a revised interior. Power went up by another 2bhp the following year with the Series IV, easily recognised by its much smaller tail fins. The final model was the Series V of 1965 which had a 92bhp twin-carb 1,725cc engine with a five-bearing crank, enough to power the Alpine to an easy 100mph, especially when fitted with the optional overdrive.

Superior in many ways to rivals like the MGB and the Triumph TR4, the Alpine remains one of the most practical and everyday useable sportscars of the era. The driving position is excellent, the doors open wide for easy entrance and exit and the handling is exemplary thanks to a notably rigid structure. Great for shopping but also a real hoot on twisty B-roads, the Alpine is perhaps the ideal classic sportscar.

First registered in January 1968, this Alpine Series V has the desirable overdrive gearbox option and has had just four owners from new, the first keeping it for 36 years and the second for 16 years (2004 – 2020). Our vendor acquired the car in April 2021 to join his substantial collection of classics and it has been kept tucked away in nice dry storage ever since, with just the occasional short run to keep everything free.

We are told that the car does have a substantial history file but at the time of cataloguing this could not be located as the vendor is currently in the midst of moving house. We will update this description should the paperwork emerge before the auction, or we will send it on to the successful buyer should it emerge afterwards.

A check of the MOT history online shows that the car was tested every year from 2006 – 2018 when it became MOT-exempt, usually passing with no advisories and covering some 9,000 miles during this 12-year period. The last MOT was issued in April 2018 which was another clean pass and the car has only covered some 900 miles since, the odometer currently showing 86,158 miles.

Driven some 60 miles to the sale without drama, we are told that the Alpine drives well with the overdrive working as it should. It has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with healthy 40psi oil pressure.

As you can see in the photos, this Alpine looks to be in generally good shape for a 58-year-old with no real signs of corrosion that we could spot. Only reluctantly being sold due to the aforementioned house move and consequent loss of storage, it looks mighty tempting at the modest guide price suggested.

Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]